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What part of the ball do you focus on?

mdouet

By mdouet,
in Instruction and Playing Tips

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mdouet Established Member

mdouet

What part of the ball should I be focusing on for different types of shots (here are my guesses):

Driver/Woods? Back of the ball

Hybrids? Center of the ball

Irons? Center of the ball

Wedges? Front of the ball

Chipping? Front of the ball
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Open-Faced Club Sandwedge Dedicated Member

Open-Faced Club Sandwedge

I do it like this instead:

Driver/Woods? Back of the ball

Hybrids? Back of the ball

Irons? Back of the ball

Full Wedges? Back of the ball

Lobs/Sand shots/Flop shots/Knock-downs? Front of the ball

Chipping/Putting? Top (center) of the ball

For all full swings, I look at the back of the ball, because it promotes keeping my head behind the ball, and also promotes a spine tilt away from the target which in turn promotes an in-to-out swing.

For specialty wedge shots where I'm playing the ball with my weight forward and the ball off my back foot to come steeply down into the ball, I look a the front of the ball.

For chipping (defining chipping as a bump-and-run type of chip, as opposed to the specialty wedge shots I mentioned above) and putting, I focus straight down at the top of the ball.

-Andrew
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mruseless Well Established Member

mruseless

I try not to focus on the ball at all. I focus on routine, rhythm, and smoothness. My worst shots happen when I get too "ball focused". But that's just me.

--------------------------
"There are only 3 kinds of people in this world -- Those who can count, and those who can't."

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Surefire Dedicated Member

Surefire

So if you guys don't look at the ball, where are you looking when you swing?

I look at the ball while setting up, as soon as I start my swing I'm not consciously looking at anything.

I probably am looking at the ball, but not by choice. I guess my mind is so concentrated on other things during the swing that not much conscious attention is given to my vision. In fact this is definately true because if I closed my eyes it would feel weird!
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jlin453 Newbie

jlin453

The only time I'm focusing on the ball that much is when I'm putting, and that's when I'm looking at one particular dimple. For me, this helps me keep still and not think about too much during my putting stroke.
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Grogger31 Well Established Member

Grogger31

I try not to focus on any part of the ball at all. I find when I do I'm more likely to hit fat or thin. I know it sounds strange, but I try to imagine the ball isn't there ... then again, maybe that's why I'm only a 16 handicap.

Seriously, when I tee my ball up, I purposely put it so that no logo or writing is visible. This helps me to NOT focus on any part of the ball.

Driver: FT-5 9* Neutral
3 & 5 Wood: SuperSteel
Irons: ISI Beryllium Copper
Sand Wedge: Ben Hogan piece of
Putter: White Hot

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mdouet Established Member

mdouet

  • Author
I'm surprised that some people don't focus on the ball at all. I tend to mishit the ball if I don't focus on it. This could also be causing me to become too ball bound and not focused on making a good full swing through the ball. I just don't think I would feel comfortable not looking at the ball though.
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play4him Well Established Member

play4him

It has been interesting to read what others do. I have always been real specific at focusing on a certain spot on the back of the ball. I've always wanted to make sure I made solid contact. It's worked for me for over thirty years, as I have shot in the 60's & 70's throughout that span.
play4him

Driver: Titleist 905R
3-Wood: Titleist 904F
Hybrid: Titleist 585 19 DegreeIrons: TitleistWedges (PW,Gap,SW,Lob): TitleistPutter: Bettinardi C04
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Grogger31 Well Established Member

Grogger31

It has been interesting to read what others do. I have always been real specific at focusing on a certain spot on the back of the ball. I've always wanted to make sure I made solid contact. It's worked for me for over thirty years, as I have shot in the 60's & 70's throughout that span.

Heck, if I can get down to a 2 hdcp by focusing on the back of the ball, count me in!

Driver: FT-5 9* Neutral
3 & 5 Wood: SuperSteel
Irons: ISI Beryllium Copper
Sand Wedge: Ben Hogan piece of
Putter: White Hot

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tm22721 Dedicated Member

tm22721

I used to manipulate the clubhead to compensate for bad swing mechanics but gave up after two years because it resulted in too much inconsistency.

Now I am trying to build and rely upon good swing mechanics to get the clubhead back to the ball.
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Mr.Wedge Established Member

Mr.Wedge

After reading this thread I went out and checked what I do because I never really think about it. I have the ball in my vision but do not focus on any part of it, using my eyes primarily to maintain head level to the ground. Once I start transition, I don't really see anything.
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mruseless Well Established Member

mruseless

So if you guys don't look at the ball, where are you looking when you swing?

Well, I look at the ball, but only the general area. I don't focus in on a particular part of the ball.

--------------------------
"There are only 3 kinds of people in this world -- Those who can count, and those who can't."

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whip_it_out Dedicated Member

whip_it_out

I actually don't know what I look at over the ball, I get constantly told that things land on top of the ball in my setup( grass, butterfly, etc.) and I don't do anything about them. Well, I don't see them. I spend a lot of my time looking at the target, when I'm not, I am thinking about what the target looks like, where I want the ball to land, or a swing thought.
In The Bag

Titleist 905T 9.5°
Nike Sumo2 15°
Nike Sumo2 19°Nike Forged Irons - 3-PW Titleist Bob Vokey Spin Milled 56°10°Scotty Cameron Pro Platinum Newport 2
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